Debbi Fincher reports, from the elementary school: Just a quick follow-up on the amazing Killer Whale Tales program FHES students enjoyed today. This is an orca (killer whale) skull casting from a young transient female which Jeff Hogan shared with the kids. Another surprise happened when Erin of San Juan Excursions gave out a “free  Continue Reading

When Josie & I dropped by to see Bob Otis at Lime Kiln Lighthouse on Sunday, he told us the killer whales hadn’t been by for a while (see the calendar above, which his study posts at the lighthouse) in his study area, which is the area you can see from the lighthouse. Bob’s been  Continue Reading

You know, Gordy Peterson made it an issue in his campaign last year, and it’s been a bone of contention for years between the US (that would be us, here, on this island) and Victoria: They have dumped untreated raw sewage into the ocean since the city was started over 150 years ago. Well, the  Continue Reading

Based in Friday Harbor, Paul Watson & his outfit are getting some viewers on TV – here’s more from Traci at Sea Shepherd: Whale Wars Season 2 Premier Wins Top Ranking in the US Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd crew featured in Whale Wars had nearly 1.2 million viewers for the Season Two  Continue Reading

Peter Ross is coming to the island to discuss what we all know – that toxins in the water are hurting the local killer whales, and badly. Here’s more about his presentation this Friday at 7: Fireproof Killer Whales – Toxins in our Water Lecture Series On June 12, Dr. Peter Ross of Fisheries and  Continue Reading

When was the last time you dropped by the state park at Lime Kiln? Next time you’re there, stick your head in & give Erin Corra (the park interpretative specialist) a shout…she’s done a good job of getting the place ready for the season, including the store right at the trailhead before you head for  Continue Reading

The music & food were great, and it’s great what the music brings to the island for kids. The annual Jazz at the Labs last Saturday was awesome, and even more awesome is the money it raises to make possible the K-12 marine science program that provides outreach to the local schools, which is led  Continue Reading

It’s always nice to have people notice your good work – and Steve Schramm says a magazine has just covered a couple of places he designed here on the island: Just in time for summer, two Island Gardens Company landscapes are featured in the current issue of Easy-Care Landscaping, available on newsstands now. One garden  Continue Reading

Stephanie Buffum from the Friends of the San Juan tells me we’ve finally got my friend Doris’ proposal on the docket – and it’s about time. This County has been a leader in other areas of environmental protection (when was the last time you saw a jetski? Right!) and now it’s time to ban styrofoam  Continue Reading

Stephanie Buffum from the Friends of the San Juan tells me we’ve finally got my friend Doris’ proposal on the docket – and it’s about time. This County has been a leader in other areas of environmental protection (when was the last time you saw a jetski? Right!) and now it’s time to ban styrofoam  Continue Reading

What do you do when you go kayaking & there is a harbor seal on the back of your kayak, taking a ride? Here’s more from Scott Saylor, for the Examiner.com. -oo-

Peggy Long had announced that she & Kurt wanted to get a dive club going at Naknek Charters, so I asked her to how the first meeting went last week…she reports: Hi, Ian! We had a great meeting of the San Juan Islands Dive Club.  17 People showed up and the ideas flowed.  We talked  Continue Reading

Jim Maya caught a pigeon guillemot at dinner yesterday…here’s a bit more about the cute little black & white birds & their cute orange feet.

It’s the time of year you see it everywhere, and the pretty yellow flowers on it are why that Scottish guy brought it to Victoria years ago. Well, scotch broom is a noxious weed. A mature plant produces in excess of 10,000 seeds that can be ejected as far as 20 feet.  Since those seeds  Continue Reading

It’s the time of year you see it everywhere, and the pretty yellow flowers on it are why that Scottish guy brought it to Victoria years ago. Well, scotch broom is a noxious weed. A mature plant produces in excess of 10,000 seeds that can be ejected as far as 20 feet.  Since those seeds  Continue Reading

The last few years have been ones in which preservation efforts can claim some successes. This is critical if we are to leave our children anything